Sponsor

Sponsor

Minnesota agency tasked with coordinating aid to Haiti from states

As relief agencies rush to Haiti, a Minnesota-led effort is underway to coordinate resources from all 50 states and several U.S. territories.

Several weeks before the earthquake, Minnesota's Homeland Security and Emergency Management division became the coordinator for a national network that helps states coordinate resources during emergencies.

The Minnesota team will find and deploy resources to Haiti from individual states after the initial response from the federal government and private agencies.

"Minnesota is ready to help the people of Haiti during this tragic event," Gov. Tim Pawlenty said in a statement released Friday. "Our emergency management team will support the response effort by helping to get resources to where they are needed."

The network, known as the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, is designed as a mutual aid compact to help states coordinate resources, personnel and equipment during emergencies.